he sultan hearkened to this discourse without showing the least
anger. But before he gave her any answer, he asked her what she had
brought tied up in the napkin. She took the china dish which she had
set down at the foot of the throne, untied it, and presented it to the
sultan.

The sultan's amazement and surprise were inexpressible, when he saw so
many large, beautiful, and valuable jewels collected in the dish. He
remained for some time lost in admiration. At last, when he had
recovered himself, he received the present from Aladdin's mother's
hand, saying, "How rich, how beautiful!"

After he had admired and handled all the jewels one after another, he
turned to his grand vizier, and showing him the dish, said, "Behold,
admire, wonder! And confess that your eyes never beheld jewels so rich
and beautiful before."

The vizier was charmed.

"Well," continued the sultan, "what sayest thou to such a present? Is
it not worthy of the princess my daughter? And ought I not to bestow
her on one who values her at so great a price?"

"I cannot but own," replied the grand vizier, "that the present is
worthy of the princess; but I beg of your majesty to grant me three
months before you come to a final resolution. I hope, before that
time, my son, whom you have regarded with your favor, will be able to
make a nobler present than this Aladdin, who is an entire stranger to
your majesty."

The sultan granted his request, and he said to the old woman, "Good
woman, go home, and tell your son that I agree to the proposal you
have made me; but I cannot marry the princess my daughter for three
months. At the expiration of that time, come again."

Aladdin's mother returned home much more gratified than she had
expected, and told her son with much joy the condescending answer she
had received from the sultan's own mouth; and that she was to come to
the divan again that day three months.

At hearing this news, Aladdin thought himself the most happy of all
men, and thanked his mother for the pains she had taken in the affair,
the good success of which was of so great importance to his peace that
he counted every day, week, and even hour as it passed. When two of
the three months were passed, his mother one evening, having no oil in
the house, went out to buy some, and found a general rejoicing--the
houses dressed with foliage, silks, and carpeting, and every one
striving to show his joy according to his ability. The streets were
cro